John’s friend and former co-star Jackson Davis confirmed his death to CBC News on Thursday. The actor died Wednesday afternoon “looking calmer than he had in a long time,” Davis wrote in a Facebook post announcing his death. “He was funny, kind, and even though he didn’t get the credit he should have, he was also a very good actor. He had the biggest laugh ever and it was my goal in life to make him laugh, just listen to it.” (Facebook) (Facebook) John, a member of the shíshálh Nation in Sechelt, BC, performed in The Beachcombers as a teenager. In the years that followed he created a new blueprint for Indigenous characters on screen, eschewing outdated stereotypes and caricatures as Jessie. The Beachcombers ran for 19 seasons, making it the second longest-running Canadian television drama ever. Having first aired in October 1972 – with more than 350 episodes to follow – this autumn marks its 50th anniversary. “I don’t think I would have ever considered becoming an actor if Beachcombers hadn’t happened,” John said in a 2002 article printed by the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix. The show chronicled the coastal adventures of log salvager Nick Adonidas (Bruno Gerussi) and his beach buddy Jesse Jim as they tracked down stray logs on their tug, the Persephone. It became a hit from its second season and enjoyed 15 more as one of CBC’s highest-rated shows, helped by the fact that its cast – including John, Davies and Gerussi – were beloved by viewers in Canada and internationally. The show was filmed and set in Gibsons, BC, putting British Columbia on the map as a destination for film production and talent, one of the first shows to establish the province as Hollywood North.
